pregnancy at 40?

Question

I have 3 children youngest 7 i am 40 and i am going to try for another baby, as anyone of this age or near had a baby at this age and as everything worked out ok.

Answer 1

My mum had her kids at 36 (me) and 42 (my brother). No problems. Easy pregnancies (didn't even get morning sickness) easy labour, two big healthy babies - I was 8 and a half pounds, brother was just under 7. I never saw her as an "older" mother, she was a better mum than most of the 20 something mothers my friends had and has always been very young in her outlook.

(Oh and if you wanrt to be further shocked my dad was 52 when I was born and 58 when my brother was born. Again he was a fantastic dad (WWII veteran!) - very young in his outlook and much better dad than my friends' 20 something dads who just sat around watching telly and drinking beer all day.)

My grandmother had her kids at 36, 38 and 40 in the days before advanced medical care when all babies were born at home. No problems, three easy pregnancies and labours, three big healthy babies (my eldest auntie was over 10 pounds!)

I'm having my first at nearly 35.

Don't listen to the scare stories. People who had their kids at 20 think its "impossibly" old to be having them post 35 but what do they know - to them everyone of 35 and over is ancient and should be put in an old people's home!

My mum in law had her first (my BF) at 19 and had a very touch and go pregnancy (lots of things wrong), plus my BF was really tiny and sick when born and needed emergency surgery to save his life at 5 weeks old. My mum and grandmother had none of that with their kids, despite having them at an older age.

It all depends on how healthy you are. You can be fit as a fiddle at 40 or completely unfit at 20.

I'm a trained dancer and fitter than most 21 year olds and I've had a text book pregnancy, not a thing wrong with me or the baby, tested low risk for downs and other abnormalities (so low risk they didn't even do an amnio). I've been told that if I go overdue I won't even get induced until 42+ weeks because my blood pressure and everything else is so perfect. (Darn it! Don't want to wait another 4 weeks for my baby!)

Answer 2

If you want another baby i say go for it! I'm almost 37 i have 4 children my youngest child is 10 and am expecting my new addition in the next four weeks! I haven't really had any problems only the general ones! Must say i have felt more tired this time round!
Anyway good luck and hope everything turns out how you've planned it!

Answer 3

I'm not near that age, but I do have a aunt who fell pregnant at 35 and had a problem free pregnancy, she did however go through a procedure where the doctor drew ambiotic fluid from the womb to check if the baby had Down's or other diseases that occur when babies are conceived to mothers 35 years or older. And if there will be defects with the baby, then the mother has a choice to terminate the pregnancy if she chooses. Other than that, the delivery went well and her health wasn't jeopardised. It is always best to discuss your options with your GP though.

Answer 4

I'm 39 and pregnant with my fourth. Just keep in mind that it may take a bit longer for you to get pregnant, so don't lose hope. I tried for over a year before I was successful.

Go for a pre-conception appointment with on OB/GYN and ask any questions you might have. You will be considered high-risk and will be given the choice of many different tests to use in screen for birth defects. Don't be surprised if you hear the term advanced maternal age or even geriatric maternal age. Your OB may even be a specialist called a perinatologist that is an expert in dealing with older moms.

You will probably have more tiredness and back aches, but other than that you shouldn't have any extra problems related strictly to age.

Good luck and well wishes.

Answer 5

My mother has a very lovely baby boy, he's perfect. He's 9 months old and very advanced; walking and talking allready! He's the best, most wonderful little boy anybody could have wished for.

My mother being 42 has never really been considered relevent. Obviously there are increased risks, and concieving can be more difficult. But in answer to your question, in my experience, everything has worked out better than ok :)

Answer 6

I know load of women who have had babies 40 plus who have healthy babies. Although your risk are higher and much harder to get pregnant. The good thing about not waiting too long to have your family is your parents are still young enough to help out with you own (which is a terrific help). Think about this for the baby too, will you be able to do the things with them when there older or will you be past it when they are 30? I mean like help with their children and their weddings and so on.

Answer 7

Hi! I'm 39 weeks pregnant & 22, just make sure the wife takes the blood test at 15 weeks pregnant to check for fetal abnormalities as they increase as a woman ages.my b'friends mum had baby at 40. he's only 6 the now & he's perfect little boy! Theirs 17 years between them!no need to worry! goodluck

Answer 8

u hav had 3 children already!!! u have 2 look @ by da time they r 10 u will b 50!!! but its not about age, after all age is just anumber, and ur as younge as u feel!!! if u want another baby go 4 it!!! dont ask us!!! its ur life! no 1 can tell u how 2 love it!!!

em xx

Answer 9

i am 26, my mom had me just after she turned 19. I now have a 6 year old sister as well as a 2 year old sister..... Both of the pregnancies went great for my mom, she had gestational diabetes, which went away shortly after having both of them, other than that nothing went wrong, and I have 2 little sister that are perfectly healthy and smart and beautiful. Good luck......

Answer 10

good luck on the baby and have fun there are a lot of website about this just remember the older you are the more tired you can get so take it easy (with 3 children i Know its not easy)